Comments on: The Clarence Hotel – Then and Now https://evelazarus.com/the-clarence-hotel-then-and-now/ Mon, 30 Mar 2026 23:29:27 +0000 hourly 1 By: alice daoust https://evelazarus.com/the-clarence-hotel-then-and-now/#comment-64508 Sun, 30 Nov 2025 19:07:46 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=13496#comment-64508 In reply to Bob Fortin.

my grandfather died there in a fire 1968. im looking for family.members

my name is alice daoust

]]> By: Al Irwin https://evelazarus.com/the-clarence-hotel-then-and-now/#comment-59604 Sat, 30 Dec 2023 23:46:02 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=13496#comment-59604 In September 1966 I got a ride from Mission into Vancouver early one morning with my mom, in time to start a new job at Woodwards, Oakridge. I was 18, I had a small suitcase I stashed at work that first day, and in the afternoon I rode a bus downtown until a saw a for rent sign, got out and booked into the Clarence Hotel. Within days I was transferred to Woodwards downtown, so I stayed in the Clarence, walking distance to my work, ’til at least Christmas. I think it was maybe $8 a week, and I earned enough at a $1.25 an hour, to cover my room in one day. The Beachboys’ Good Vibrations was playing everywhere I went that fall, and the old guys in the Clarence’s tiny lobby spent a lot of time talking about football. And that fall I went to the Grey Cup parade that turned into a riot, from which I beat a hasty retreat to my safe space, at the Clarence.

]]> By: Terry https://evelazarus.com/the-clarence-hotel-then-and-now/#comment-57855 Wed, 15 Feb 2023 16:31:03 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=13496#comment-57855 In reply to Chris Au.

I was going to,print that out as well! November 2023. Hope he is there on time to have his picture taken! Enjoyed all the info here as usual.

]]> By: J+Hutchison https://evelazarus.com/the-clarence-hotel-then-and-now/#comment-57837 Tue, 14 Feb 2023 00:31:51 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=13496#comment-57837 Once again a great history lesson.Thank you Eve

]]> By: Lani Russwurm https://evelazarus.com/the-clarence-hotel-then-and-now/#comment-57820 Sun, 12 Feb 2023 08:35:42 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=13496#comment-57820 *after having bought the actual oldest bar in town.

]]> By: Lani Russwurm https://evelazarus.com/the-clarence-hotel-then-and-now/#comment-57819 Sun, 12 Feb 2023 08:34:10 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=13496#comment-57819 I’ve looked and couldn’t find any older bars operating in the city. It’s ironic that the Cambie continues to falsely claim that title after having bought oldest bar in town.

]]> By: Bob Fortin https://evelazarus.com/the-clarence-hotel-then-and-now/#comment-57812 Sun, 12 Feb 2023 01:03:40 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=13496#comment-57812 In reply to Eve Lazarus.

I enjoy all of your stories, thanks from many of us

]]> By: Chris Au https://evelazarus.com/the-clarence-hotel-then-and-now/#comment-57810 Sat, 11 Feb 2023 19:34:51 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=13496#comment-57810 Great picture of Mark from the future. 😉

]]> By: Bryan Fortin https://evelazarus.com/the-clarence-hotel-then-and-now/#comment-57809 Sat, 11 Feb 2023 19:01:52 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=13496#comment-57809 Stayed there one night years ago , couldn’t figure out how the footprints got on the high ceiling above the bed 🤷🏽‍♂️. Bryan Fortin , Ralph’s youngest son .

]]> By: Teresa James https://evelazarus.com/the-clarence-hotel-then-and-now/#comment-57806 Sat, 11 Feb 2023 17:44:17 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=13496#comment-57806 In reply to Bob Fortin.

Bob – my father, Stan Drabik, was one of Frank’s brothers. One day in the mid – ’60s, when I was a teenager on summer holiday, Dad brought home a couple of old beer parlour chairs from the Clarence. I bet they were from the basement there. Although they were very sturdy and made of hardwood, one had a broken arm and one a broken leg, and they were very dirty. I cleaned them up and made patterns out of the worn upholstery and then sewed new ones. Dad glued the broken pieces together, and I painted the wood. He showed me how to reupholster the chairs, and we worked together on it. They turned out well, and they got good use at our house for many years. They are still in occasional use.

]]> By: Paul+Berrettoni https://evelazarus.com/the-clarence-hotel-then-and-now/#comment-57805 Sat, 11 Feb 2023 16:58:39 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=13496#comment-57805 Hi Eve
Our family bought the Rainer Hotel ..in 1940 ..however in the 1890;s it was a street bar and brothel ..Gasey Jacks ?
Our family also bought the Marr Hotel in 1954 ..
Lots of stories if you are interested
Paul Berrettoni

]]> By: anthony maw https://evelazarus.com/the-clarence-hotel-then-and-now/#comment-57803 Sat, 11 Feb 2023 16:43:49 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=13496#comment-57803 Clarence hotel is now being operated as The Cambie travel backpackers hostel. Does anybody know what the ghost sign on the front of the building originally read?

]]> By: Bob Fortin https://evelazarus.com/the-clarence-hotel-then-and-now/#comment-57801 Sat, 11 Feb 2023 16:17:26 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=13496#comment-57801 I do remember Frank Drabik but I don’t remember his son Bob.

]]> By: Bob Fortin https://evelazarus.com/the-clarence-hotel-then-and-now/#comment-57800 Sat, 11 Feb 2023 16:14:48 +0000 https://evelazarus.com/?p=13496#comment-57800 I am Ralph Fortin’s son. I remember it well, I would hangout there in the early 60’s on summer holidays. I knew all the desk clerks and loved going into the basement looking at very old things that were stored over the decades. My dad hired me and a friend to clean out some of the junk once and I remember coming out of there covered in coal dust.
Downtown was safe then. I still have a watch for the jeweller Ferguson &
Stevenson who rented a space on the south end of the building. There was also a barber shop next to that.

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